JERUSALEM (JTA) — Some 1,000 Russian-speaking Birthright Israel participants honored the contributions of Russian-speaking immigrants to Israel in film, media, art, politics and technology at an event in Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv.
The program on Tuesday evening also showcased educational opportunities that the participants can take advantage of in Israel.
The event was part of a partnership between Taglit-Birthright Israel and Genesis Philanthropy Group, to provide Russian-speaking participants with enrichment experiences while they are in Israel participating in Birthright trips. Genesis Philanthropy Group is a private foundation whose mission is to develop and enhance a sense of Jewish identity among Russian-speaking Jews worldwide.
Among the speakers at the event were Tali Ploskov, Israeli politician and member of the Knesset for the Kulanu party; Evgeny Sova, political commentator at Israel’s Russian-language Channel 9; David Polonsky, renowned illustrator; Katia Goldstein, Evolita start up co-founder, and actress Helena Yaralova,
About 45,000 native Russian-speaking young adults have visited Israel with Taglit-Birthright Israel over the past 16 years. Nearly 4,000 Russian-speaking participants visited Israel on the 10-day free trip so far this year.
